Where to Play Golf in July
July is the peak of the northern summer, the longest days of the year and the links season in full swing, the month the Open Championship is played. The trick is to chase the cool: the great links of the British Isles, the maritime coasts of North America, the mountains and the near midnight light of the far north. These are the eight destinations we would book for a July trip, ranked with the weather window, the courses to play and indicative 2026 fees.
Photograph: The Old Course, St Andrews, Scotland, via Google
How we chose
We ranked these eight on reliable July weather, the quality and density of the golf, and how comfortable the heat is in high summer. July is the warmest, busiest month in the northern hemisphere, so we leaned toward the cooler destinations where the golf is at its best, the great links of Scotland, Ireland and England, the maritime coasts of Canada and the Pacific Northwest, the mountains, and the long northern light of Iceland and Scandinavia. We left out the desert and Mediterranean, which are simply too hot, and the southern hemisphere, which is in winter. Throughout, we favored destinations a travelling golfer can build a strong week around, and ordered them with quality, weather and value in mind.
The 8 best places to play golf in July
Scotland
Our top pick for July, the home of golf at the very height of its season. The links from St Andrews and East Lothian to the Highlands enjoy the longest days of the year, with light to play late into the evening and the warmest, most settled weather Scotland gets. It is the month the Open Championship is staged, so the buzz and the demand are at their peak; book the marquee tee times and the best lodging well ahead. Pack a layer for the wind, but July Scotland is golf at its most magical.
Ireland
Ireland runs Scotland close, and July is prime time for the great links of the southwest and the north. Ballybunion, Lahinch, Waterville and the Old Head along the Atlantic, Royal County Down and Royal Portrush in the north, all bask in long summer days and the warmest conditions of the year. The weather is changeable as ever, but the courses are at their best and the evenings stretch late. Peak season, so plan and book early.
England
England is glorious for golf in July, when the heathland belt around Surrey, Sunningdale and Wentworth plays firm and warm, and the links coasts of Kent, Lancashire and the southwest enjoy the height of summer. Long days and settled spells make it ideal for a quintessentially English trip, the Open rota courses and the great inland gems all in fine fettle. Busy and warm, a notch hotter inland than the breezy coasts.
Cape Breton and Nova Scotia, Canada
The wild coast of Cape Breton hits its stride in July, cool, fresh maritime air and the long days of a Canadian summer. Cabot Cliffs and Cabot Links tumble along the Atlantic in the modern links tradition, walking golf with ocean holes that rank among the best on the continent. The pleasant summer temperatures make it a perfect escape from the heat further south, on one of golf's great new pilgrimages.
Bandon Dunes, Oregon
The great links style resort on the wild Oregon coast is at its driest and most settled in July, with cool ocean air and long days. Five championship courses, Pacific Dunes and the others, run along the dunes above the Pacific, all walking golf with caddies in the Scottish tradition. Summer offers the best odds of fine weather on what is arguably the finest links experience in North America. Bring waterproofs regardless.
The Rocky Mountains
The mountain golf of Colorado and the Canadian Rockies is at its short, glorious peak in July, with warm days, cool nights and dramatic alpine scenery. Resort courses around Banff, Jasper and the Colorado high country play firm and fast through thin mountain air that sends the ball flying, framed by peaks and pine. A spectacular and comfortable summer alternative to the heat of the lowlands.
Iceland and Scandinavia
For something unforgettable, the far north offers golf almost around the clock in July, when the sun barely sets. Iceland's raw coastal courses and the heathland and forest layouts of Sweden, Denmark and Finland enjoy mild days and astonishing light, with tee times available late into the night. It is a novelty and a genuinely fine golf experience, a midnight round under the northern sky a memory for life.
British Columbia, Canada
Western Canada is lovely for golf in July, from the mountain resorts around Whistler and the Okanagan Valley to Vancouver Island, with warm, dry summer weather and long days. The golf mixes dramatic mountain layouts and lake valley courses with superb scenery and a relaxed resort feel. A comfortable, scenic pick for a summer trip that pairs golf with the outdoors.
Weather and seasonal notes verified June 2026 from destination and golf travel sources. July is peak season in most of these destinations, so conditions and green fees are at their highest; always confirm current rates and tee times directly before booking. Check July tee time availability.
Plan your July golf trip
Tell us which of these appeals and roughly when and who is travelling, and one concierge matches the destination to your group, books the courses and the stay, and costs it to the head. July links tee times go very early in the peak season, so the sooner we start the better, with no obligation.
July golf questions
Where is the best place to play golf in July?
July is the height of the northern links season, so Scotland and Ireland are our top picks, with the longest daylight of the year, warm settled spells and the courses in full summer swing, though it is peak season and the Open Championship is staged this month. For cooler air, Cape Breton in Nova Scotia, Bandon Dunes in Oregon and the Rocky Mountains shine, while Iceland and Scandinavia offer near midnight golf under the long northern light. The desert and Mediterranean are too hot, and the southern hemisphere is in winter. Always confirm current fees and tee times directly before booking.
Is July a good month for a golf holiday?
July is a wonderful month for a golf trip in the right places. The links of Scotland, Ireland and England enjoy their longest days and warmest conditions, the cool maritime and mountain destinations of North America are at their best, and the far north offers golf almost around the clock. The trade off is that July is peak season, so book the marquee links and resorts well ahead and expect high summer rates. Avoid the desert and the Mediterranean, which are at their hottest.
Is it too hot to play golf in the desert in July?
Yes. In July the desert and Gulf destinations such as Dubai, Arizona and the Palm Springs area are at the peak of summer, with daytime temperatures often well above 40 degrees Celsius, so they are best avoided beyond very early morning play. The Mediterranean is also hot and busy. July is the month for the cooler links countries, the maritime coasts of North America and the mountains, which are at or near their seasonal best. Always confirm current conditions before booking.
Where can I play links golf in July?
Scotland, Ireland and England are the classic links destinations and July is their peak, with the longest daylight of the year, the warmest weather and the courses in prime summer condition. Bandon Dunes in Oregon and Cape Breton in Nova Scotia offer links style golf on the North American side. July is the busiest and most expensive links month, overlapping the Open Championship, so book well ahead. Always confirm current rates directly before booking.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Seasonal weather windows and indicative fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.